WESTBROOK – The on-fire Blue Blazes fell behind in the fourth against the Stags Thursday afternoon, but tied it in the fifth and pulled ahead in the sixth on a Kaleb Kent grounder, securing a 3-2 victory.

Fourth-ranked Westbrook advances to Saturday’s semifinals, where they host No. 9 Portland, who upset top-seeded Scarborough 5-4.

“Tight battle…not many base runners,” Westbrook head coach Greg Souza said after the game. “Very well played by both teams, and we just capitalized more on our last chance.”

Cheverus got the tying run on with one out in the seventh inning, but Westbrook’s Keenan Lowe pulled a ground out and a pop-up out of Stag batters to end the threat, and the game.

“I just knew I had to throw strikes,” Westbrook pitcher Keenan Lowe said. “And I knew they were going to hit the ball, but I just wanted to keep it down so there was no doubles or anything like that, keep the ball in the infield.”

The first three innings passed with out a run. In the top of the fourth, however, Cheverus found a groove. The Stags piled up four hits in a row – two doubles followed by two singles – to bank a pair of runs and a shot of confidence.

Lowe confessed to some nervousness when Cheverus caught fire. “I came in, and they just hit every pitch I was throwing right down the middle, and I just couldn’t find it after that play happened and they scored those two runs. It took me a little bit to settle down. I was definitely getting nervous, and we were definitely down two – but I knew we’d come back.”

The Stags’ two quick runs didn’t rattle Souza, however. “I knew we were going to put the ball in play against them; we were hitting them. There was a couple times early in the game when I didn’t bunt because I knew we were going to put the ball in play.”

Westbrook answered immediately. In the bottom of the fourth, rightfielder Ryan Gilligan smacked a grounder into left. He arrived safely on first and catcher Kyle Heath, 2013 SMAA batting champion, took his place in the batter’s box. He belted a grounder, as well, one the Cheverus shortstop fielded successfully but threw past second base, allowing Gilligan to get all the way to third.

Lowe then stepped up to the plate and added a third grounder, this one to the Stags’ third baseman. He hurled the ball to second, catching Heath out, but Gilligan made it home, cutting the lead in half.

Westbrook tied it up in the fifth. Kaleb Kent knocked a blooper to shallow center, gaining first. When the Stags’ pitcher then tried to catch Kent off base, he overthrew the ball, handing Kent second and third on a blue, blazing platter. Three batters later, Heath did once more what Heath does, and put the ball past the opposition, this time down the first base line. He got caught out at first, but Kent came around to make the score 2-2.

One inning later, the Blazes seized the lead, and victory. After Derek Bouchard walked to first, his teammates proceeded to patiently shuttle him around the bases, Zack Bean sac bunting and Andrew St. Clair grounding out at first to leave Bouchard itchy on third. Kent then took another turn with the bat – and grounded down the left field line to beckon Bouchard home again. The Stags never recovered, leaving the Blazes triumphant, 3-2.

“It’s their season,” Souza said of his boys. “We’ve worked hard, and I just had a lot of confidence that they would put the ball in play.”

Westbrook’s Ryan Gilligan leans into his cut at the incoming ball.
Winning pitcher Keenan Lowe.
Collin Joyce takes a swing in the box for Westbrook.
Westbrook shortstop Collin Joyce, ready to spring.
Blue Blazes’ first baseman Zack Bean.